What risk is there in a comforter? For Ducky Dons, producer of comforters and pillows in Ermelo, this is not a rhetorical question. With international suppliers and relatively limited market power as an SME, getting a grip on the chain is not a given. The SVOM grant made it possible to tackle the due diligence process professionally.
The approach: bringing focus
Ducky Dons, which previously sharpened its sustainable course with us, ran into a recognizable question: how do you make a difference in your chain with relatively little purchasing power, without losing sight of business value? A supplier policy with dozens of requirements sounds nice, but quickly becomes a paper reality.
Therefore, our approach revolved around focus. We tightened the CSR policy and Code of Conduct according to OECD guidelines and conducted a value chain risk analysis among existing and new suppliers. Following Pareto’s principle, supplemented by the severity and irreversibility of risks, we determined where the effort would pay off most. CEO
Nick van Nieuwenhuizen is very satisfied: “Ducky Dons, after signing the Covenant on Sustainable Clothing and Textiles of the SER in 2018, started working on making our company and our chain more sustainable. An update of our way of working was needed and Empact, together with our people, realized this. Within budget and within the time we were given for this. We are very satisfied with this result and are now hard at work on the implementation”.
The result: a process that keeps running
Ducky Dons now has a new CSR policy that is built around the most important risks and opportunities in the chain, with clear agreements on supplier selection, points for improvement and monitoring. But the biggest gains are not on paper. The due diligence process has become a fixed part of the periodic MT meetings. As a result, responsible procurement is not a project with an end date, but an ongoing way of working in which the company itself is at the wheel. Exactly that makes the difference between good intentions and real grip on your chain.
The role of the SVOM grant
This trajectory was made possible in part by the SVOM grant (Subsidie Verantwoord Ondernemen MKB), which supports SMEs to take up responsible entrepreneurship in the chain with a consultant at their side. The scheme also proved to be very pleasant to apply for in practice: Ducky Dons submitted the application itself and the turnaround time was short.
Thinking about taking a similar approach to responsible procurement? Learn more about the SVOM grant or feel free to contact us for more information.